Heath Board Head Seeks Code Language Changes

Dr. David Beckwith, chairman of the Bethlehem Health Board, went one-for- two last night in his request that City Council alter language it changed recently in the city's codes.

In one change approved on first reading this week as the city updates its municipal laws and administrative procedures, council said the health director's salary would be set by the health board "subject to the approval of the administration and City Council" - the quote having been added to the previous language.

Beckwith argued that the provision could threaten the independence of the health director and the autonomy of the health board, which is an independent body with members appointed by the mayor.

Bethlehem is one of a handful of Pennsylvania municipalities which provides health services normally done by the state, with the city and state sharing the funding - a fact which has led to questions over lines of authority.

Beckwith denied last night his concerns were a result of a dispute last year between Health Director Glen Cooper and Community Development Director James McCarthy over the appointment of a chief sanitarian.

Beckwith said the health board has had a good working relationship with the city administration, and said his concerns arose from future situations where the bureau's independence might be threatened by "an" administration.

Beckwith also took issue with another change, in which council took the power to employ personnel in the health bureau from the hands of the health director, and placed it into those of "the City of Bethlehem."

Beckwith was concerned this change might put undue pressure on the director in working autonomously, should his judgment come into conflict with what the administration might want.

McCarthy argued that the board retains its autonomy by virtue of the fact that it, and not the administration, appoints the health director, and thus only the board can remove the director. According to McCarthy, the administration has no power to influence the director's decision because it cannot "fire" him.

Specifically, Beckwith asked that "administration" be removed from the salary approval provision, and that the health director be re-inserted as the one who makes staff employment decisions.

Council sought City Solicitor Joseph Leeson's opinion on the requests, and followed his advice. Leeson advised that "administration" be removed as an approving body for the director's salary, with council retaining its power in that regard.

But Leeson ruled that placing the city in charge of employing personnel in the health bureau is "in conformance with applicable law," and advised Beckwith's request be denied on that issue.

Meeting as a "committee of the whole," council also updated business and licensing, taxation and traffic codes, making various changes which haven't been considered at a regular meeting.